Seeking information on the wife of John CLARK (b. abt 1760) Bildeston, Suffolk, England?

Question

LDS shows Judith PLATTARD but I can't find any other trace. She would be my sixth great grandmother.

Her daughter Mary (1780-1805) married John ELLIOTT, 28 May 1802 Hadleigh, Suffolk, England.( Original data:  England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. )

 I have five children for Judith & John: Mary, Lucinda, Thomas, Thomas, Rowena - subject to question.

Comments

If Mary Clark and John Elliott married in 1802 and had five children and Mary died in 1805, John would probably have had to bring some of the children to the marriage.

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It was Judith and John who had five children, not Mary and John.

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The two sons who were named Thomas look to be born about a year apart. Daughter, Priscilla, was christened in 1779 at St Mary, Redgrave, with Botesdale, Suffolk, England. Son, David was christened at the same church on 16 Dec 1782.

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John Clark

mentioned in the record of David Clark

Name	John Clark
Gender	Male
Wife	Judith Clark
Son	David Clark

Name	David Clark
Gender	Male
Christening Date	16 Dec 1782
Christening Place	Bolesdale, Suffolk, England
Father's Name	John Clark
Mother's Name	Judith Clark

CITING THIS RECORD

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVG1-9S7 : accessed 27 May 2016), John Clark in entry for David Clark, 16 Dec 1782; citing Suffolk, England, reference P 3; FHL microfilm 887,394.

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John Clark

mentioned in the record of Priscilla Clark

Name	John Clark
Gender	Male
Wife	Judith
Daughter	Priscilla Clark

Name	Priscilla Clark
Gender	Female
Christening Date	25 Jul 1779
Christening Place	St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England
Father's Name	John Clark
Mother's Name	Judith

CITING THIS RECORD

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNX7-JNR : accessed 27 May 2016), John Clark in entry for Priscilla Clark, 25 Jul 1779; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 3; FHL microfilm 1,658,088.

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John Clark

mentioned in the record of John Clark and Judith Plattard

Name	John Clark
Spouse's Name	Judith Plattard
Event Date	21 Feb 1779
Event Place	St. Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England

CITING THIS RECORD

"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNQR-X6N : accessed 27 May 2016), John Clark and Judith Plattard, 21 Feb 1779; citing St. Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England, reference 3; FHL microfilm 1,658,088.

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thank you for the info on David & Priscilla.

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I have since found a record of the marriage citing Bridgham w Roudham, Norwich, NORFOLK but no further luck. Have e-mailed both Norfolk & Suffolk Record Offices to see if they can shed further light. Will let the thread know if I get anywhere.

Answer 1

John Clark

mentioned in the record of John Clark and Mary Parker

Name	John Clark
Birth Date	1760
Age	24
Spouse's Name	Mary Parker
Spouse's Birth Date	1760
Spouse's Age	24
Event Date	17 Oct 1784
Event Place	York, England

CITING THIS RECORD

"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXCF-KBW : accessed 27 May 2016), John Clark and Mary Parker, 17 Oct 1784; citing York, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,469,714.

Comments

But John Clark didn't marry a Mary - John Elliott did. And York is hundreds of miles from Suffolk. Perhaps it's been a long week...

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I'm almost certain this is not the same man/wife; Yes, York is a long way from Bildeston, especially in the1700s. I did say the children belonged to John & Judith. What I'm looking for is info on Judith - birth/parents/ etc. but the name PLATTARD doesn't appear anywhere I've searched so far. Can anyone suggest alternative spellings that might fit??

Answer 2

Search for Judith Platwood on familysearch and you'll see her as mother in four christenings Rowena, Lucinda, Thomas (presumably died), and Thomas. She certainly had a variety of names at christenings.

Judith Norton Clark (Margaret, 1788)
Judith Platwood Clark (Lucinda, 1790)
Judith Norton Platwood (Thomas,1791)
Judith Platwood Clark (Thomas, 1792)
Judith Norton Platwood (Rowena, 1793)

Comments

I will try the NORTON and PLATTWOOD variations and see if I come up with anything. thanks

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No luck with those variations so far.

Answer 3

John Clark
England Marriages, 1538–1973
marriage:    21 February 1779    St. Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England    
spouse:    Judith Plattard        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith Platwood Clark
child:    Lucinda Clark        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith Platwood Clark
child:    Thomas Clark        

John Clarke
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith Norton Platwood
child:    Rowena Clarke        

John Clarke
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith Norton Platwood
child:    Thomas Clarke        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith
child:    Priscilla Clark        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith
child:    John Clark        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith
child:    David Clark        

John Clark
Father
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
spouse:    Judith
child:    Mary Clark

Comments

Looks like there were eight children.

Answer 4

Perhaps Plattard was not her maiden name:

These entries are worth further research:

https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&englishSubcountryName=Suffolk&query=%2Bgivenname%3AJudith~%20%2Bsurname%3Aplattard~%20%2Bbirth_place%3ASuffolk~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1750-1765~%20%2Brecord_country%3AEngland%20%2Brecord_subcountry%3A

Comments

I have been searching for this lady for months now - she appears to have burst into existence only as the wife of John Clarke and mother of his children! I have a record for a female Norton, b Derbyshire 1755 and a Judeth Norton as mother to Reuben Norton (bap 179 7) Wramplingham, SFK, but this date clashes with her children with John Clarke. I have had no luck with Plattwood or Plattard.

It is possible she married twice but I haven't found a record yet under any of the names. so I guess she remains a mystery! for the time being at least